Va. bus fares to go up in July

The DASH board of directors has approved a 10-cent hike in base fare, up from $1.50 to $1.60, and the monthly pass will go up $5, from $35 to $40, starting on July 1.

There will also be some service reductions. The board says both the fare increase and the service reductions are necessary because of a cut in the city’s transit subsidy.

The service cuts include the elimination of the peak period AT1 extension along Eisenhower Avenue and the Saturday extension between Eisenhower and King Street Metro, via Carlyle.

The city is also proposing reductions in Transportation Improvement Program funds that could impact the frequency of the highly promoted King Street Trolley from 15-minute to 20-minute service at the height of the tourist season.

There will also be increased service in the following areas:

A new AT9 crosstown route that will operate between the Mark Center and Potomac Yard.

The AT8 weekday peak period service will increase frequency to every 10 minutes betweenLandmark Mall and the King Street Metrorail Station;

The AT8 weekday midday service will increase frequencies to every 30 minutes along the entire route

The AT10 weekday service will increase service hours and end approximately an hour later and Saturday service will start approximately an hour earlier and end an hour later.